Wanted: A few (5?) Western Electric dial rings and number cards.

[Bill]

I just pulled a box off a dusty shelf, and found 5 WE phones packed away. A B-1, a D-1, a 302, and two Space Savers. And wouldn't you know, all had been stripped of their dial ring and number card. (Maybe that's why I packed them all in that box?) So I am looking for 5 of each. The rings don't have to be in great shape as long as they have the tabs - I can strip and paint them. Number cards can be any variety, or can even be blank. (I used to have a proper-size punch, but of course it was not in the box.) It would be nice to have the retainer clip and the clear plastic disk, but I don't want to ask for the world.

I would be glad to pay a fair price for these, plus shipping to 04090. If you have some you could spare, please let me know at tcimsgs@cox.net or wjeffrey@cox.net. Many thanks.

Bill

[TelePlay]

This is a pet peeve of mine.

Starting a few years ago, I began to see phones listed on eBay that had their number card holder assemblies removed. At the same time, I would see the same seller listing a complete number card holder assembly priced more than the phone, in some cases.

5 to 10 years ago, people were selling packages of 6 to 12 holders on eBay for a dollar or two each.

Today, if you can find a seller willing to take $10 each plus shipping, that's a good deal.

Seems the average price for one assembly today is between $15 and $25. Search eBay for "telephone number card holder" and look for the WE style.

These are ball park numbers from my memory but are generally accurate.

I still strongly feel the stripping of card holders from phones for sale is a disgusting action by unscrupulous sellers.

Good luck at finding 5 at a reasonable price.

Here is a reasonable offering:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/145705304999

[Bill]

Hmm. Apparently I have fallen out of touch with the real world. I'm thinking that the eBay prices you mention reflect what is shown on OPW and OPS and the like. These "super-collector" powder-coated units look great - but I'm not sure who pays those prices in the real world. Not me. I guess my next step is to watch for a "BTS" phone in a local antique shop as the tourist season winds down, and scavenge for myself. You are right - I hate doing that.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Bill

[TelePlay]

First caution is holder material. There are plastic and metal holders.

The plastic type are "newer" and more subject to breaking, tabs and the ring itself. They are difficult to paint. I've had tabs break off while carefully trying to remove the holder from the finger wheel.

The metal type tabs don't break off and the rings can be sanded or stripped and painted, including baking the fresh paint in an oven. They can be powder coated or plated.

The number holder assembly is composed of 3 or 4 parts plus the number card. Both of the "Old's" charge about $5 to $7 more for the complete assembly. They sell the ring alone for the mid-$20' plus shipping. They also sell the "internals" if needed.

eBay prices are less but condition may not be the same. I have had a search set up on eBay for these for several years now and rarely find an eBay seller who asks a reasonable price (usually a phone collector honestly wanting to help) or an seller not knowing what they have. That rarely happens these days. The rest are eBay sellers asking "Old" prices.

It's a supply and demand pricing curve. The demand was high a few years ago and the supply was low as bulk sellers sold out (I remember seeing 12 sell for $15 with free shipping 5 or so years ago).

Seems the demand has dropped off now but supply has not increased. That could result in prices coming down over the years.

A forum member sells them at a reasonable price (he might send you a PM or post here).

Here are "Old's" offerings (with the first image being the reasonable eBay seller posted above - Seller description: "BRASS ring, brass disc, brass spring, clear acetate, & card. 5-pieces.):

https://www.ebay.com/itm/145705304999

[TelePlay]

Watching eBay hourly can turn up good deals. These 8 complete WE number card holders sold quickly in May 2024 as a BIN for $65, $8 each. That was a good deal.

A couple of other similar deals showed up over the past year or so.

[SUnset2]

I bought a similar lot of number card rings from the same seller.  I've bought some other telephone parts at a reasonable price from this seller.  Kudos to him (Cary) for being a friend to all telephone collectors.